Weight-operated plate or sheet sorting machine



Jan. 1s, 1927. 1,614,630

H. PETIN WEIGHT OPERATED PLATE OR SHEET SORTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5. 1926 3 SheetSheet 2 mun mlmlmlllll I d] l Eil I l l-II` n:

H l I l--- 4+; .f--w i h l Y g n1 z i l F i i i J I L--- 2| muuu INVENTUR: uzar .7a z'n/ f mamy Jan' 18 1927 H. PETIN WEIGHT OPBRATED PLATE UR SHEET SOIRTIHU CHINE Filed Feb. 5. 3.926` 3 Sheets-Sheet' 3 A mw` Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES HECTOR PETIN, 0F PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR T0 SOCIT ETABLISSEMENTS J. J'. CAMAUD FORGES DE BASSE-INDRE, 0F PARIS, FRANCE.

WEIGHT-OPEATED PLATE OB SHEET SORTING MACHINE.

Application filed February 5, 1926, Serial No. 86,258, and in France December 28, 1925.

Up to the present time, it has been usual to effect the sorting of tin plates or sheets by hand, by more or less skilled work-girls who, by esswork and simply by lifting the sheets, pick out the heavier ones. Obviously such a method involves both heavy cost and slight accuracy. Ordinary scales are also used for the purpose, but this manner of sorting entails much time and expense, while not free from errors since the arrangement in stacks is still effected by hand.

Thel object of my invention is to provide a machine that will do away with these drawbacks, being fool-proof and adapted automatically to sort plates or sheets in a number of different stacks, each of which can be restricted within as close weight limits as desired.

As will be readily realized, the improved machine is suitable for classifying, i. e. sorting and stacking, any thin plates or sheets of different weightswhatever their nature and purpose.

To achieve this object I take advantage of the various positions successively occupied under different loads b the pan of an ordinary balance tted with a special device permitting the pan to be stopped always in one and the same position whenever carrying a plate or sheet Weighing within predetermined weight limits and possessing, therefore, a redetermined thickness.

At each o the said balanced positions the pan operates a linger which moves in front of a set of slides, each of which corresponds to a predetermined position of the pan.

Actuated by a suitable pulling member, said finger operates the proper slide which, through levers,` opens a corresponding chamber or compartment wliereinto the weighed plate or sheet is selectively delivered, any such compartment being always the same for one and the same position of the pan.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood I have illustrated, as an example, an embodiment thereof in and by drawings appended hereto and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a. sectional view of the same on line A-B of-Figure 1;

` said sheet issues Figure 3 shows a detail of 'the couplingfinger V, the slides X and the device M1 hereinafter described.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the said finger and slides.

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views on line C-D of Figure 4.

In all the figures the same reference letters denote the same parts.

It will be assumed for present purposes that the machine comprises a double balance, sorting and arrangin in eleven classes at least forty plates or s eets per minute.

Such a machine includes, from left to right as one looks at the drawing, a guidetable A permitting the plate or sheet to be fed by hand or by an automatic feeder into immediate contact with the lower arts of a pair of steel rollers B (Fig. 2). T e latter are revolved from a suitable motor E through gearing C, D. A second pair of rollers F, supported by movable arms G, are loose on their shaft and serve to press the sheet or late against the rollers B so as to ensure a rive.l A cam H transmits to rollers F, through a lever, an up and down motion. Said motion, combined with the motion of the pairs of tappets I controlled by a cam J, is such that the rollers F are out of the way when the tagipets are in their upper position. A cam-sha t, revolved at a suitable minimum speed, carries, between the two cams H and J, five other cams N, O, P, Q, R. The first one N controls, through a parallel motion device S, the vertical movement of a frame T intended to receive the sheet when from the feeding rollers and to lay it on the pan U of the balance. To eifect this, said frame, which is constituted by light channel-steel work, is so arranged as to pass in the course of its upward motion through suitablerecesses provided in the pan. The balance beam is connected on one side with a device M1 Fig. 3 comprising a lseries of six disks N1 arran d stepwise in a box and a number of w ich are lifted when the pan of the balance descends. A damper O1 prevents oscillations liable to limit the weighing speed.

Said an carries, hanging from a rod, a lmifenger V so shaped in cross-section that during its vertical movements it will freely work between the slides X and the pull-rod Y.

The slides X, ten iii number, constitute, iii normal position, a single block from which they are adapted to be pulled forward one at a time.

'l` his result is obtained by providing in cach slide a V-shapcil notch (Fig. 6) iii which the adjacent end of the coupling finger V can engage.

Cam ,0, imparting through levers a horizontal motion to the pulling member Y and thereby to the coupling-finger, controls the release or pulling of slides X as soon as the pim is balanced.

Any displacement of a slide is transmitted to rods Z Fig. l which, acting on catches A1, disengage levers B1, which latter :ire acted on by springs C1 that cause them, during their rotation, to displace shutters D1 on the axis of which they are keyed.

On the righthand side of the movable frame T is ibund the same arrangement as on its left hand side, a pair of tappets E1 controlled by a' cam P and two pairs oi rollers F1 and G1.

The first pair of rollers F1 is stationary, is rotated at a speed higher than the one at which the pair of feeding rollers B is revolved. The second pair G1 is loose and on its shaft and is moved up and down by a carin Q.

This motion is such that the rollers G1 remain at the bottom of their travel during weighing and then rise to start the sheet;4

said sheet being fed by a sheet-iron guide H1 between the first two rollers I1 of a series of six pairs.

Said sheet is led by a series of six pairs of rollers arranged vertically and spaced by intervals corresponding to the sorting chambers or compartments.

, A pathway formed by the back of shutters l)l succeeding pairs of ually coupled continues to guide the sheet etween the rollers.

The end of that pathway leads by mea'ns of a second sheet-iron guide J1 to a chamber or compartment K1 intended for the overheavy plates or sheets.

The other sheets are diverted from their path to the sloping shutters released by the mechanism and are led to the chambers corresponding to their respective weights.

fter each sorting operation the shutters are returned to their original position by rods P1 which, having an upward motion imparted to them by cam R, unlock catches L and re-lock catches A1.

For safetys sake the etect of this motion is also extended to the mechanism of all the shutters.

The operation is as follows:

The plate or sheet to be weighed being fed under rollers B is stopped there by tappets I until, said tappets being moved outof the way, the movable rollers F are raised. The drive then begins, bringin the plate or sheet onto the movable frame while the latter is in its upper position.

As soon as the plate or sheet is stopped on said frame by tappets E1, said frame coiiics down and la s the sheet on the balance pan. This pan t en comes down. Meanwhile, the other a'rm of the balance beam goes up and lifts all or any of the disks in device M1. The balance becomes promptly balanced in a position corresponding to the pile wherein the sheet or plate is to be deposited.

At the saine time, coupling finger V is positioned between the set of slides X and the pulling member Y opposite the slide corresponding to such pile, whereupon the pulling member Y instantly actuatesl the 'slide concerned.

The latters displacement is transmitted through rods Z to catch A1, thereby unlocking lever B1, which, influenced by its spring C1, drags with it in its rotation the group of shutters D1 on the axis of which it is keyed.

hus being caused to project into the pathway formed between t e rollers, said shutters sto the sheet or plate, which, after having een carried up with the movable frame and removed therefrom by the dischar ing rollers, is deposited in the proper cha'm er or compartment assigned to it.

Once this operation is com leted, the shut ters are locked again in their original position b catches A1.

While this is going on the next plate or sheet has already gone through several of the above set forth o rations.

The invention 1s not limited merel to the above described kind of machine, but can also be applied, for instance, to machines for sorting and arrangin sheets in numbered or counted packets an for automatically removing such packets from their respective compartments or chambers.

I wish it to be clearly understood that I reserve the ri ht to introduce any constructional alterations Without being deemed to depart from the scope of my invention, since, obviously, forms, details, materials and dimensions can be varied while retaining the principle thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sorting apparatus, the combination of weighing mechanism; a set of conipartments1 to receive weighed articles of different definite weights, each compartment having means for normally closing it; iiieziiis controlled by the action of the weighing mechanism to open the closure of the compa rtment corresponding to' the weight of the article being weighed; `and means for automatically delivering the weighed article -from the weighing mechanism to the open compartment.

2. In a sorting apparatus, the combines tion of weighing mechanism 'including a movable platform to receive the articles to be weighed, and a balance beam to which the platform is connected; a setl of compartments to rccei ve weighed articles of different definite weights, each compartment having means for normally closing it; mechanism controlled by the beam for opening the closure of the compartment corresponding to the weight of the article 4on the latform; and mechanism for automatically c elivering the weighed article from the platform to the open compartment.l

3. In a sorting apparatus, the combination of weighing mechanism embodyinflr a movable platform to' receive the artic es to be weighed, a beam to which the platform is connected, a set of wei hts for balancing the beam in different de nite positions corresponding to the weights of the articles on the platform, and means for automatically selecting the proper weights to act upon the beam; a set of receiving compartments, one for each balance position of the beam, having means for normall closing them; mechanism controlled by t e beam for opening the closure of the compartment corresponding to the weight of the article on the platform; and mechanism for automatically delivering the weighefl article from the platforni to the open compartment. 1

4. In a sorting apparatus, the combination of weighing mechanism; a set of compartments to receive weighed articles of different definite weights, each compartment having means for normally closing it; a set of slides, one for each closure; a connection between each slide and closure for trans-4 mitting the movement of the former to the latter to open the same; a normallyfinterrupted operating train common to the slides; means operated by the action of the weighing mechanism for completing the connection of said train to the slide corresponding to the compartment to receive the article being weighed; and means for automatically delivering the weighed article from the weighing mechanism to the open compart- 'ting the movement of the former to the latter to open the same; va pull-rod for selectively operatin the slides; a coupler movable between t 1e pull-rod and the slides to couple said rod to a selected slide; means operated by the action of the weighing mechanism for positioning the coupler to engage the slide corresponding to the compartment to receive the article being weighed; land means for automatically delivering the weighed article from the ing mechanism to the open compartment.

6. Sortin apparatus according to claim 5, in whicli the .weighing mechanism includes a. balance beam whereto the coupler is connected.

In a sorting apparatus, the combination of weighing mechanism; a vertical series of compartments to receive articles of diierent definite wei hts; feeding mechanism adjacent the inets of the compartments; means associated with each compartment for detieeting a weighed article thereinto from the feeding mechanism; means controlled by the action of the weighing mechanism for' moving into o erative position the defiecting means of tie compartrnent correspondingto the4 weight of the article being weighed; and 'mechanism for delivering the weighed article from. the weighing mechanism to the feeding mecha-v msm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HECTOR PETIN.

weigh- `from the Weighing mechanism to the open compartment.

2. In a sorting apparatus, the combination of weighing mechanism 'including a movable platform to receive the articles to he weighed, and a balance beam to which the platform is connected; a set of compartments to receive weighed articles of different definite weights, each compartment having means for normally closing it; mechanism controlled by the beam for opening the closure of the compartment corresponding to the weight of the article Von the platform; and mechanism for automatically delivering the weighed article from the platform t0 the open compartment.

i n a sorting apparatus, the combination of weighing mechanism embodying a movable platform to receive the articles to be weighed, a beam to which the platform is connected, a set of weidhts for balancing the beam in different definite positions corresponding to the weights of the articles on the platform, and means for automaticallyr selecting the proper weights to act upon the beam; a set of receiving compartments, one for each balance position of the beam, having means for normall closing them; mechanism controlled by the beam for opening the closure of the compartment corresponding to the Weight of the article on the platform; and mechanism for automatically delivering the weighed article from the platform to the open compartment.

4. In a sorting ap ara-tus, the combination of weighing mec anism; a set of compartments to receive weighed articles of different definite weights, each compartment having means for normally closing it; a set of slides, one for each closure; a connection between each slide and closure for transmitting the movement of the former to the latter to open the same; a normally-interrupted operating train common to the slides; means operated by the action of the weighing mechanism for completing the comieetion of said train to the slide corresponding to the compartment to receive the article being weighed; and means for automatically delivering the weighed article from the weighing mechanism to the open compartment.

5. In a sorting ap aratus, the combination of weighing mec ianism; a set ofcompartments to receive weighed articles of different. definite weights, each compartment having means for normally closing it; a set of slides, one for each closure; a connection between each slide and closure for transmitting the movement of the former to the latter to open the same; la pull-rod for selectively operatin the slides; a coupler movable between t ie pull-rod and the slides to couple said rod to a selected slide; means operated by the action of the weighing mechanism for positioning the coupler to engage the slide corresponding to the compartment to receive the article being weighed; and means for automatically delivering the weighed article from the weighing mechanism to the open compartment.

6. Sortin apparatus according to claim 5, in whicfi the Weighing mechanism includes a balance beam whereto the coupler is connected.

7. In a sorting apparatus, the combination of weighing mechanism; a vertical series of compartments to receive articles of different definite Weio'hts; feeding mechanism adjacent the inets of the compartments; means associated with each compartment for deflecting a weighed 'article thereinto from the feeding mechanism; means controlled by the action of the weighing mechanism for moving into operative position the deflecting means.of the compartment corresponding to the weight of the article being weighed; and mechanism for delivering the weighed article from. the weighing mechanism to the feeding mechanlsm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HECTOR PETIN.

C'Eit'rirrcara or coluuicrioa.`

Patent No. l, 614, 630.

Granted January 18, 1927, to

HECTOR PETIN.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the above mentioned pstent was erroneously written and printed as Socicte Etablissements J. J. Camaud & Forges De 'Basse-Indre, of Paris, France, whereas said name should have been written and printed as Socie'te Etablissements J. J. Carnaud't Forges De Basse-indre, of Pnriis, France, as shown by Vthe records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of March, A. D. 1927.

Scsi.

M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

UERTlFiCATE 0F CGRRECTION.

Patent No. 1,614,630. Granted January I8, 1927, to

HECTOR PETIN.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the above mentioned patent was erroneously written and printed as Socie'tel Etablissements J. J. Camaud 8: Forges De Basse-Indre, of Paris, France, whereas said name should have been written and printed as Societel Etablissements J. J. Carnaud & Forges De Basse-indre, of Paris, France, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this lSth day of March, A. D. 1927.

M. J. Moore, Seal. Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

